I remember a few months ago when this article came out and a bunch of people here talking about it.
I read the article and came to the conclusion that it was mostly sensationalist journalism. As much sensationalist as those articles praising every aspect of Dubai without mentioning any of its shortcomings. Reading an article coming from a British newspaper criticizing a country in the middle east for taking advantage of the lower classes seemed a little bit hypocritical. It wasn't too long ago that the British were trying to bend "lesser civilizations" to their will.
The crazy thing that westerners tend to forget is that our nations and industries take advantage of poor labor all the time. The difference is here in Dubai, you see it everywhere. The construction laborers, maids, security guards, janitors, and a multitude of other low wage workers are everywhere, omnipresent. It's always in your face.
A man steps out of a $200,000 Mercedes and hands the keys to a valet who makes no more than $300 a month and people scream from the hilltops, "Look! See how shameful Dubai is?! Taking advantage of poor people from poor countries and using them as slave labor!" Of course the problem is that back in his home country he'd be making a hell of a lot less money doing the same job. I'm not saying this justifies some of the conditions laborers work in, nor am I saying they should be treated like second class people. I would like to point out that we do the same thing to people in the west. Though often times it is not so in your face. We westerners are quick to criticize the cheap labor but sure as hell don't mind shopping at Wal-Mart to get the cheapest junk possible. Somehow we justify it in our minds the same way people here justify it. Ah whoever made this shirt is making more than they would as a farmer.
The article is typical of sensationalist journalism. It arranges the topic in a strict black and white format when really it is a grey area with many different aspects and nuances that need open discussion. It focuses on how bad other people are while reinforcing our own western values and systems as being the pinnacle civilization.
Take the woman living out of her Range Rover. I feel for her and her story, I really do. But what a horrible example to use. Basically she made some bad financial decisions, got into a "little bit of debt", had a family medical emergency at the worst possible time, and then to top it off, got hit by a global economic downturn. Am I missing something here or can't this scenario play out anywhere in the world? Granted the jail sentence for debt might be harsh here for but one would think reading the penalties for defaulting on something like a $100,000 vehicle might be prudent when living in a foreign country.
The journalist interviewed drunk people at a bar to get a good bead on what people in Dubai are like? Excuse me? Isn't that like going down to a strip club in Vegas and trying to discuss politics? Not that I have any personal reference for Vegas strip clubs, maybe that is what they do there.
I'm not defending Dubai as the end all be all for modern cities. I'm just putting Dubai into world context. Does Dubai have large social and economic problems that need attention? Absolutely. But doesn't the US? Doesn't the UK? Doesn't every place in the world have good and bad?
I would also say that the UAE is only thirty seven years old as a nation. What were we doing in the US thirty seven years after our foundation? Thirty seven years ago this place didn't exist. Even twenty years ago there was nothing here. Despite its myriad of problems, Dubai does have good people here trying to make this a better place on all fronts.
There is one other unique thing about Dubai, I've personally never been to a place where so many different cultures and religions come into contact with each other and are trying to make a society work. Just the other night we had dinner with two Iranians, two Americans, a British guy who grew up in Spain, a Syrian, a Saudi, a Pakistani, and an Argentinian. Granted that doesn't happen all the time but it was a very pleasant and interesting evening.
